Chiefs, Crusaders dominate Aussie rivals, Bulls win key derby

The Waikato Chiefs and Canterbury Crusaders, celebrating Andy Ellis's 150th game, maintained New Zealand's dominance over Australian teams as the Northern Bulls won a key South African derby in this weekend's Super Rugby.

The Chiefs went top of the overall tournament standings with a bonus-point 36-15 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in Hamilton, while the Crusaders mastered the NSW Waratahs 29-10 in Christchurch.

The Bulls went top of Africa 1 conference following a crucial 17-13 win over fellow contenders Western Stormers and the Golden Lions took charge of the other South African conference, thumping Argentina's Jaguares 52-24.

The inaccuracy of fly-half Elton Jantjies (three misses) and winger Ruan Combrinck (four misses) did not harm the South African side because they scored eight tries.

Former Springboks coach Nick Mallett called the Southern Kings a "C division" team after they suffered a humiliating loss to the Sharks.

"It was an A division team against a C division team," said the SuperSport TV analyst after the South Africa derby produced one of the dullest, lopsided matches in the competition this season.

Japan World Cup star Goromaru faces shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season with the Reds, the club said.

Goromaru, 30, suffered an AC joint separation in the Reds' win over the Sunwolves and is expected to be sidelined for 12 weeks, ruling him out of the Reds' final three Super Rugby games and Japan's two-Test series against the touring Scotland side next month.

The Blues battened down to defeat the strong-finishing Force in a battle of the competition strugglers in Perth.

Tana Umaga's Blues led 17-3 at half-time and fended off the Force despite not scoring a point in the second half for their sixth win of the season.

Australia's ACT Brumbies, the Central Cheetahs of South Africa and Kiwi duo Otago Highlanders and Wellington Hurricanes had the weekend off.